Words.

Today we celebrate Thanksgiving. This weekend we remember, President John F. Kennedy, who was laid to rest with a State funeral and full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery (25 November 1963). During the funeral service – when words failed – pipers and drummers from the USAF Pipe Band spoke through mournful music. JFK said — “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

Learn more about the USAF Pipe Band and JFK's Funeral at the Piping Press here.

We love Thanksgiving because it is such an amazing reminder for all of us to focus on our blessings and to remember to appreciate all that we have in our lives. It is also an amazing reminder that if we are truly grateful we will reach out to others and bless their lives too. It is just an inspiring time of year! So, today I thought I would share some of my favorite Thanksgiving quotes to help inspire your holiday:

“This is a wonderful time to be living here on earth. Our opportunities are limitless. While there are some things wrong in the world today, there are many things right, such as teachers who teach, ministers who minister, marriages that make it, parents who sacrifice, and friends who help. We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues.” -Thomas S. Monson.

“Thanksgiving is the holiday of peace, the celebration of work and the simple life… a true folk-festival that speaks the poetry of the turn of the seasons, the beauty of seedtime and harvest, the ripe product of the year – and the deep, deep connection of all these things with God.” ~Ray Stannard Baker

“Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action.” ~W.J. Cameron

“God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say “thank you”?” ~William A. Ward

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” – Willaim Arthur Ward

“If you are really thankful, what do you do? You share.” — W. Clement Stone

“Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” — W.T. Purkiser

“No matter our circumstances, no matter our challenges or trials, there is always something in each day to embrace and cherish. There is something in each day that can bring gratitude and joy if only we see it and appreciate it.” -Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“Each day I am thankful for nights that turned into mornings, friends that turned into family, dreams that turned into reality, and likes that turned into love.” – unknown

Have a blessed and grateful day everyone! And don’t forget to share that gratitude by ACTIONS, not just words. From Amy Reese Anderson